No matter how much experience you have, it’s always important to stay on top of the latest techniques in the tile installation field. Today, we’re talking about grout installation.
Here’s the latest on installing grout:
Prepare the Work Area
Before installing any grout, it’s important to make sure the work area is clean. Vacuum away any and all dust and debris, as they can interfere with your installation.
If there is any uneven or high thinset, remove it with a sturdy-edged tool by scraping it out. You want even, flush grout lines, and excess thinset can cause lumps and bumps. After removing excess thinset, vacuum again thoroughly, including the surface of your tile.
Prepare Your Tools
Before you can begin grouting, you’re going to need a variety of tools. Some of which include:
- A mixing bucket;
- A margin trowel;
- A grout float;
- A tile grout sponge; and
- A microfiber towel.
Once you have all of your tools readily available, you can begin the next step in the installation process.
Mix Your Grout
Pour some of the grout that you are using into your mixing bucket. Add a small amount of water and start mixing by hand with the margin trowel. You may find it helpful to tip the bucket in your direction and roll it similar to how a cement mixer rolls, so you can ensure an even mix. Add water as needed, but you should be aiming for a consistency similar to smooth peanut butter. To avoid adding in too much water, try dribbling it in with your grout sponge. It’s always safer to err on the side of caution rather than add too much water and oversaturate the grout.
Once the grout has reached the desired consistency, it’s important to let it rest. Allowing the grout to slake for ten minutes encourages the chemicals in the grout to do what they do best and strengthen the overall mix, ensuring strong and durable joints. If the grout is a bit too stiff after letting it rest, give it another mix by hand, but do not add more water.
Apply the Grout
To apply the grout to the tile, you first need to get it onto your grout float. The easiest way to do this is to tip the bucket towards you as you did when mixing, drag the float across and up the slope of the bucket, and scoop it onto your grout float.
Once your float is loaded, spread the grout diagonally across the tiles – forcing it into the joints. With each pass ensure the joint is completely filled with grout.
After the joints are filled, remove as much excess as possible with the edge of your float. Scrape it off in a serpentine motion to not only remove the extra, but to encourage grout to find any areas that aren’t completely filled.
Once you’ve removed what you can, allow the grout to sit for about 20-30 minutes so it can start to harden. Once it’s started to firm up, wipe a damp tile grout sponge across the tile. Be sure to rinse the tiling sponges often and repeat wiping until only a thin haze of grout is left.
Using your grout sponge, begin smoothing and leveling the grout lines if needed. Gently press down on the sponge with your index finger to smooth any uneven areas and allow the grout to dry for 30 minutes. After the haze is dried, wipe it way with a microfiber cloth until clean.
Tiling Sponges at Tile Pro Depot
At Tile Pro Depot, we sell the installation tools you need to ensure your grout is applied expertly and beautifully. Whether you need trowels or tiling sponges, we’ve got you covered. Check out our website to see all that we have to offer.
